What must be worn when working on a ladder?

When working on a ladder, wearing slip-resistant footwear is particularly important for maintaining safety and stability. These shoes are designed to provide adequate grip on the ladder rungs and prevent slipping, which is a critical factor in ladder safety. Proper footwear helps ensure that the worker remains secure while climbing or standing on the ladder, thus minimizing the risk of accidents.

While steel-toed boots can provide foot protection from falling objects, and hard hats are useful for preventing head injuries in environments with overhead hazards, the primary concern specifically related to ladder use involves maintaining stable footing. Work gloves, while they can offer hand protection, do not contribute directly to the stability and grip necessary when elevating oneself on a ladder.

In summary, slip-resistant footwear is essential for safe ladder use as it directly addresses the common risks of slipping while working at height.